Break-Away Hook Assembly

ABSTRACT

A break-away hook assembly is adapted for installation for use with a low-voltage residential communication cable. A pair of members is coupled. One of the members has a connector with a terminal portion which receives a terminus of the other member. The connector breaks to release the second member from coupled engagement with the first member so that upon application of a stress in excess of a pre-established load, the cable will sag while maintaining the communication integrity of the cable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/359,044 filed on Jun. 28, 2010, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to hooks which are employed to suspendcommunication and/or data cables for residential applications. Moreparticularly, this disclosure relates generally to hooks with a threadedend which connect with the exterior of the residence and retain anoverhead cable to provide remote communication with the residence.

For conventional cable installations to which the present disclosurerelates, it is common practice to connect a low voltage datacommunication cable, which may be a fiber optic cable, a telephone lineor other conventional cable, between a remote carrier line and theresidential structure to provide communication to the interior of theresidence. P-hooks, bridle rings or other similar hardware include athreaded end which threads into the upper exterior structure of theresidence. The hardware includes a catch which receives the cableclosely adjacent the residence to provide an overhead suspension point.A trailing end portion of the cable is fixedly secured to the residenceexterior. The cable ultimately connects at the residence interior forcommunication purposes with the telephone, computer, TV or otherelectronic device.

Such communication cables typically carry a very low current andordinarily do not pose a danger of electrical shock or adverseconsequences if they are accidentally grasped or fall on or contact anindividual.

During severe weather conditions, such as high winds, ice storms, hailand other adverse conditions, it is common for overhead communicationcables under extreme loads to collapse until a break-point is surpassedor fall to the ground, break apart and thereby interrupt communicationthrough the cable. It is necessary for utility service providers tovisit the location of the downed cables and replace cables and/orrestore the cables to the proper suspended and connected positions. Whenthe conditions are wide-spread and result in multitudinous outages, itcan take an unacceptably long time for a utility to restore cablecommunication service.

Even though the downed cables ordinarily do not present a significanthazard to individuals, the downed cables are problematic due to the factthat communication is typically interrupted until proper service andconnections are restored.

SUMMARY

Briefly stated, a break-away hook assembly for a low voltage residentialcommunication cable in a preferred form comprises a first member and asecond member. The first member comprises a threaded segment and a shanksegment extending from the threaded segment. A bent portion defines agenerally curvilinear catch with a terminus that extends adjacent anintermediate portion of the shank segment and is generally spacedtherefrom to form an entry for the catch.

The second member is coupled to the first member for engagement with acatch. The second member comprises a connector with a terminal portiondefining an opening dimensioned to receive the terminus of the firstshank. A shank segment extends from the connector and a bent portioncomprising a compound bend defines a second curvilinear catch with aterminus that extends adjacent the shank segment and is generally spacedtherefrom to form an entry for the second catch. The terminal portionbreaks to release the second member from coupled engagement with thefirst member upon application of a stress applied to the second catch inexcess of a pre-established load.

The break-away hook assembly in one embodiment employs a first memberwith a P-hook. The connector is preferably manufactured from a fusibleglass composite. The second member, in one embodiment, comprises aportion which is substantially identical to the first member with thesecond threaded segment potted in the connector.

A communication cable installation for residential or similar structurecomprises a first P-hook threaded into an elevated location of thestructure and forming a first catch. A second P-hook has a second catchand is attached to a connector with an opening. The first P-hook iscoupled through the opening and engaged by the first catch. Thecommunication cable is connected to the second catch for suspension atan overhead location. When a load above a pre-established threshold isapplied to the cable, the connector breaks to uncouple the second P-hookfrom the first P-hook, thereby allowing the communication cable to sag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a break-away hook assemblyinstalled at a residence to provide overhead cable communication withthe residence;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, taken from the opposite side thereof, of thebreak-away hook assembly and a portion of the cable and a suspender ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one component of thebreak-away hook assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, portions removed, of thecomponent of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent likeparts throughout the several Figures, a break-away hook assembly isgenerally designated by the numeral 10. The hook assembly 10 isespecially adapted for use in connection with suspending an overheadcommunication cable 20 from the upper portions of a residentialstructure 30.

The hook assembly 10 functions to provide a suspension point for theoverhead cable under normal conditions. However, in the event that thecable 20 should be subject to excessive stress or loading, the hookassembly 10 breaks apart to provide a relief sag condition for the cableso as to minimize communication disruption through the cable. Thecontrolled relief sag provided by the break-away hook assemblyconsequently allows the service providers of the utility additional timeto fully restore the cable sagging and to efficiently restore the cablesuspension.

The communication cable 20 is a low current cable such as a fiber opticcable, a telephone line or other communication cable which providescommunication between a remote carrier line or trunk (not illustrated)and the interior of the residence. The leading portion 22 of the cablemay be fixedly attached to the exterior of the residence. The terminalend of the cable is connected at the interior of the structure toprovide the communication with electronic equipment such as, forexample, a telephone, a computer, a television or other electronicdevice. Typically, a suspender or drop wire clamp 24 may be fastened tothe cable 20 to facilitate the overhead suspension.

The break-away hook assembly 10 is comprised of two cooperativecomponents, namely, hook 40 and hook/connector 50 which efficientlycouple to form the break-away hook assembly. Hook 40 may assume variousforms, but is preferably a hook which is commonly referred to a P-hookor a bridle hook. Such a hook is typically characterized by a threadedend 42, a shank 44 and an opposed compound bended portion 46 forming acatch, wherein the distal end 48 is spaced away from the shank to forman entry 49 to the catch. The threaded end 42 is typically adapted tothread into the wood trim portions of the residence structure. The entry49 typically provides access to the catch which may be employed tosuspend the cable or to receive a suspender or drop wire clamp 24 whichties off or connects with the cable. A bridle ring (not illustrated),which may also be used for a similar application, typically has a morecircular geometry, but also has a threaded end and an entry.

With additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, hook/connector 50 preferablyincludes a P-hook 60 substantially similar in form and function toP-hook 40 as well as an end connector 70. The threaded end 62 of theP-hook is potted in the end connector 70 which may preferably bemanufactured from glass filled nylon or other plastic. The connector 70has an enlarged portion 72 surrounding the threaded end 62 of the P-hook60. The extreme end of the connector has a reduced portion 74 whichincludes a central opening 76. The opening 76 is dimensioned to allowthe connector to pass over the end 48 of the hook 40 and be received inthe catch as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, the connector 70 isformed from any fusible material which is selected to have apre-established break point. Other materials having a pre-establishedbreak point characteristic are also possible.

The hook assembly 10 is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein thehook/connector 50 couples to hook 40 which is anchored to the residencestructure. A suspender or drop wire clamp 24 which connects with thecable 20 has a loop 26 received in the catch 66 of hook 50. The hookassembly 10 is essentially installed in a semi-taut configuration forsuspending the cable in an overhead functional position. The leadingportion 20 of the cable is then fixedly attached by connectors 28 whichmay be plastic or otherwise adapted to break away under a heavy loadfrom their anchoring position against the structure of the residence.

Under normal conditions, hook assembly 10 functions to suspend the cable20 in a proper overhead position. However, the hook assembly 10 isadapted to break away under a load above a pre-established threshold(beyond the range of normal conditions) so that the communication cablewill essentially dangle or sag above the ground and allow communicationto be transmitted across the cable even under severe loading conditionssuch as may occur in high winds or under icy conditions. The reducedportion 74 of the connector 70 is constructed so that it willessentially break away at the opening 76, thereby disengaging from thecatch 46. The disengagement allows the cable to sag, without severingthe cable or communication connections. In some conditions, the cablemay have sufficient length so that it pulls the remaining trailingportions of the cable from the structure so that the cable lies acrossthe ground or other objects, but nevertheless, continues to providecommunication.

The proper position of the cable for overhead suspension can berelatively easily restored by the service provider visiting the site andreplacing and mounting the hook/connector 50.

One embodiment of a hook assembly 10 as described was tested undersimulated load conditions. A communication cable was suspended at anoverhead location and oriented substantially as shown in FIG. 1. Atensile pull force was applied to the communication cable. The cable wassubjected to a gradually increasing torsional motion until a loadthreshold was reached. The reduced connector portion 76 was eventuallysevered so that the first hook 40 disengaged from its connection withhook/connector 50 and the cable sagged below its previously anchoredposition while maintaining the cable integrity of the communicationfunction.

1. A break-away hook assembly for a low voltage residentialcommunication cable comprising: a first member comprising a threadedsegment and a shank segment extending from said threaded segment andforming a compound bent portion defining a generally curvilinear catchwith a terminus that extends adjacent an intermediate portion of saidshank segment and is generally spaced therefrom to form an entry forsaid catch; and a second member coupled to said first member forengagement with said catch and comprising a connector with a terminalportion defining an opening dimensioned to receive said terminus of saidfirst catch, a shank segment extending from said connector, and a bentportion comprising a compound bend defining a second curvilinear catchwith a terminus that extends adjacent said shank segment and isgenerally spaced therefrom to form an entry for said second catch,whereby said terminal portion breaks to release said second member fromcoupled engagement with said first member, upon application of a stressapplied to said second catch in excess of a pre-established load.
 2. Thebreak-away hook assembly of claim 1 wherein said first member is aP-hook.
 3. The break-away hook assembly of claim 1 wherein saidconnector is manufactured from a fusible glass composite.
 4. Thebreak-away hook assembly of claim 1 wherein said second member comprisesa portion substantially identical to said first member with a secondthreaded segment potted in said connector.
 5. A communication cableinstallation for a residential or similar structure comprising: a firstP-hook threaded into an elevated location of said structure and forminga first catch; a second P-hook having a second catch and attached to aconnector with an opening, said first P-hook coupled through saidopening and engaged by said first catch; a communication cable connectedto said second catch for suspension at an overhead location, whereinwhen a load above a pre-established threshold is applied to said cable,said connector breaks to uncouple said second P-hook from said firstP-hook, thereby allowing said communication cable to sag.
 6. Thecommunication cable installation of claim 5 wherein said connector ismanufactured from a fusible glass composite.
 7. The communication cableinstallation of claim 5 wherein said second member comprises a portionsubstantially identical to said first member with a second threadedsegment potted in said connector.
 8. The communication cableinstallation of claim 5 wherein said cable connects to said catch bymeans of a loop connecting said cable.